French la Vie https://www.frenchlavie.com French la Vie Sun, 19 Apr 2026 23:53:13 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://www.frenchlavie.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/poppy-1-150x150.png French la Vie https://www.frenchlavie.com 32 32 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/04/19/on-the-coffee-table/ On the Coffee Table https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/954069362/0/tongueincheek~On-the-Coffee-Table/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/954069362/0/tongueincheek~On-the-Coffee-Table/#comments Sun, 19 Apr 2026 11:00:22 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=84593 On a rough wooden desk that was cut down to make a coffee table sits a silver- tray, a silk lavender ribbon, a hemp-woven cloth, a stone urn, faux flowers, and a gargoyle of sort -all of which are over a hundred years old- except one thing.]]>

On a rough wooden desk that was cut down to make a coffee table sits a silver- tray, a silk lavender ribbon, a hemp-woven cloth, a stone urn, faux flowers, and a gargoyle of sort -all of which are over a hundred years old- except one thing.

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/954069362/0/tongueincheek~On-the-Coffee-Table/feed/ 1 Weekly Top Posts: 2026-04-19https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/954030692/0/tongueincheek<ol><li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/917166596/0/tongueincheek/~Let%e2%80%99s-Go-Antiquing">Let&#x2019;s Go Antiquing</a></li> <li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/916954679/0/tongueincheek/~The-Feast-of-Light">The Feast of Light</a></li> <li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/917000924/0/tongueincheek/~Easter-Morning">Easter Morning</a></li> <li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/917106563/0/tongueincheek/~A-Few-Things-I-Saw-at-the-Brocante">A Few Things I Saw at the Brocante</a></li> <li><a rel="NOFOLLOW" href="http://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/918787382/0/tongueincheek/~At-it-Again">At it Again</a></li> </ol><Img align="left" border="0" height="1" width="1" alt="" style="border:0;float:left;margin:0;padding:0;width:1px!important;height:1px!important;" hspace="0" src="https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/i/954030692/0/tongueincheek"> Sun, 19 Apr 2026 04:00:01 GMTtag:feedblitz.com,2026-04-19:tongueincheek/2026-04-19T04:00:01-00:00 FeedSplice by FeedBlitz https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/04/18/homecoming-olivia-and-her-feather-friend-sparkle/ Homecoming- Olivia and Her Feather Friend Sparkle. https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/954014840/0/tongueincheek~Homecoming-Olivia-and-Her-Feather-Friend-Sparkle/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/954014840/0/tongueincheek~Homecoming-Olivia-and-Her-Feather-Friend-Sparkle/#comments Sat, 18 Apr 2026 11:00:38 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=84578 « … Imagine me and you, I doI think about you day and night, it’s only rightTo think about the chicken you love and hold her tight. So happy together… » the Turtles Wisteria, pink tutu – holding sparkle.]]>

« … Imagine me and you, I do
I think about you day and night, it’s only right
To think about the chicken you love and hold her tight. So happy together… » the Turtles

Wisteria, pink tutu – holding sparkle.

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/954014840/0/tongueincheek~Homecoming-Olivia-and-Her-Feather-Friend-Sparkle/feed/ 8 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/04/17/too-big/ Too Big https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953963129/0/tongueincheek~Too-Big/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953963129/0/tongueincheek~Too-Big/#comments Fri, 17 Apr 2026 11:00:16 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=84573 But that’s okay. She said. Save them for another day. That’s the attitude. Patience- trusting tomorrows will come. Dancing until they do.]]>

But that’s okay. She said. Save them for another day.

That’s the attitude. Patience- trusting tomorrows will come.

Dancing until they do.

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953963129/0/tongueincheek~Too-Big/feed/ 6 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/04/16/what-catches-our-eye/ What Catches Our Eye- https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953913533/0/tongueincheek~What-Catches-Our-Eye/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953913533/0/tongueincheek~What-Catches-Our-Eye/#comments Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:00:31 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=84563 At the brocante last week I spotted three paintings that caught my eye. Talking with the dealer I discovered that they were œuvres cotées, meaning works that are listed and valued on the art market. Even the artists themselves were artistes cotés, recognized figures with an established market value. It made the whole find like I won […]]]>

At the brocante last week I spotted three paintings that caught my eye. Talking with the dealer I discovered that they were œuvres cotées, meaning works that are listed and valued on the art market. Even the artists themselves were artistes cotés, recognized figures with an established market value. It made the whole find like I won a blue ribbon, knowing these weren’t just ordinary pieces but part of the official art world. Oh la la! Though truth be told my heart leans towards the unknown artist.

When I first started antiquing, I asked an antique dealer how he knew such things. He told me that he read, went to museums—but most importantly- he learned with his eyes. “The more you see, the more you know; the more you know, the more you begin to appreciate the details.”

So I did just that—comparing one object to another, starting with something I knew a little about but admired, and then looking for another to compare it to. Gradually, I began to see what he meant: differences in color, texture, thickness, age, and shape revealing themselves the more closely I looked.

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953913533/0/tongueincheek~What-Catches-Our-Eye/feed/ 4 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/04/15/henopause/ Henopause https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953847920/0/tongueincheek~Henopause/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953847920/0/tongueincheek~Henopause/#comments Wed, 15 Apr 2026 11:00:55 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=84554 Growing up on a farm my mother had chickens— but we never treated them as pets. They were simply part of farm life. Gabriel and Olivia, however, are in love with their chickens. They sing to them, hold them, talk to them, and even let them eat right out of their hands. Throughout the day […]]]>

Growing up on a farm my mother had chickens— but we never treated them as pets. They were simply part of farm life.

Gabriel and Olivia, however, are in love with their chickens. They sing to them, hold them, talk to them, and even let them eat right out of their hands. Throughout the day they go to the chicken pen and hang out with them.

As this week they are on vacation they asked me to check in on the chickens. Everything is automated—an electric door, automatic feeder, and water system—so all I had to do was make sure the chickens were okay.

The first time I opened the gate and stepped inside, they came running toward me, making the sweetest little sounds, almost like they were greeting me. Like cats, they circled my feet and gently pecked at my shoes. It made me realize how loved they must feel—so much so that they weren’t afraid of me at all.

Olivia had shown me how to pick one up, but instead I bent down and softly stroked them. To my surprise, they let me. I couldn’t help but laugh.

As I walked around their pen, they followed me everywhere. When I went to the food bowl—even though it was already full—they gathered around. When I moved to the water, they came along. Around the tree, across the pen—they stayed right with me the entire time.

Olivia says they “talk,” and honestly, I believe her. It felt like they were saying, “Hi, how are you? We miss you. Will you pick us up?”

There’s a new term people use—“henopause.” I may be well past that 40-year-old stage, but I have to admit… I completely understand it now.

And when I finally walked back to the gate to leave, they stood there, watching me go. I swear they looked sad to see me leave. It was absolutely adorable.

]]> https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953847920/0/tongueincheek~Henopause/feed/ 4 https://www.frenchlavie.com/2026/04/14/starting-a-cabinet-of-curiosity-for-a-client/ Starting a Cabinet of Curiosity for a Client https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953773304/0/tongueincheek~Starting-a-Cabinet-of-Curiosity-for-a-Client/ https://feeds.feedblitz.com/~/953773304/0/tongueincheek~Starting-a-Cabinet-of-Curiosity-for-a-Client/#comments Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:00:02 +0000 https://www.frenchlavie.com/?p=84531 Little by little, piece by piece, one unusual thing after another—I wade slowly through the brocante, peering into every small box and across each tabletop like a scavenger hunter. I try to stay focused, resisting the call of the larger, more obvious beauties. Instead, I search for the small things—the ones that require a closer […]]]>

Little by little, piece by piece, one unusual thing after another—I wade slowly through the brocante, peering into every small box and across each tabletop like a scavenger hunter. I try to stay focused, resisting the call of the larger, more obvious beauties.

Instead, I search for the small things—the ones that require a closer look, a bit more patience.

I’ve been loving it lately. Recently, someone asked me to send them a box of small treasures. How could I possibly resist?

With my house nearly overflowing, (okay stuffed) I’m thankful I have clients who want me to send them French brocante stuff- big or small. It gives my passion an avenue.

Plus, I learned so much about French history and culture by going to the brocantes in France. Lessons that are passed down through objects and craft.

A Catholic WWI solider’s prayer token to hold in their pocket.

Here’s a glimpse of what I found:

  • A souvenir of Paris with tiny pictures tucked inside
  • A face powder box with its original label
  • An inkwell and calligraphy pen holder
  • A baby rattle.
  • A game counter in bakelite and silver
  • Pipe ancienne Gambier JACOB
  • À a vice president pin handmade
  • Prayer token
  • A châtelaine’s louis d’Ore coin purse
  • Religious document sceau
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